Dubai: Etisalat, the UAE's leading telecom operator, is likely to secure a third licence in Syria soon, while a top official expressed his optimism about securing Egypt's third licence in the coming months.
These developments reflect the UAE's prime telecom service provider's major expansion drive that will see the company secure at least half a dozen new licences in Yemen, Mauritania, Russia, Greece, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Mohammad Omran, Etisalat president, told Gulf News his company planned to expand its operations in Asia, Africa and Europe by buying shares in telecommunication companies and establishing new land and mobile telephone networks in that region.
"We are positive about securing Egypt's third mobile licence. We will soon declare details of serious negotiations to enter new markets in West Africa," he said. "Etisalat will also soon announce the details of negotiations to acquire the third mobile licence in Syria. Our meeting with the Syrian officials proved positive."
Etisalat may also soon announce the results of its bid to acquire a mobile licence in Yemen, the negotiations for which have entered its final stage, apart from the Mauritanian licence for which talks will be concluded on July 14, he said.
Another prominent Etisalat official said the company had entered the final and conclusive stage of competition with Mobile TeleSystems, and Vimpelcom, Russia's largest and second-largest mobile phone providers, to buy 90 per cent of Armentel, the Armenian telecommunication company, which is owned by OTE, a Greek telecoms provider.
"We are taking part in the July 20 auction after a comprehensive study and we are happy to announce that all pointers are objective."
"Etisalat is working on more than one regional and international front to enter the Uzbek and Tajik mobile markets and buy 70 per cent to 85 per cent of mobile telephone companies in the two countries," Jamal Al Jarwan, director-general of Etisalat International, told Gulf News.
Etisalat has operations in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Sudan and West Africa.
By Mohammad Ezz Al Deen
© Gulf News 2006
